Albany officials, advocates call for solar energy expansion

Albany’s Sen. Neil Breslin and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy joined advocates Tuesday to urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo to stand-up to President Donald Trump by supporting their goal of powering one million households with solar energy by 2023.

The Million Solar Strong campaign announced the initiative — which specifies the inclusion of 100,000 low-income households — on the Million Dollar Staircase at the New York State Capitol, highlighting the role solar energy can play in growing the region’s economy, creating jobs, cutting air pollution, and improving health outcomes throughout the state.

Currently, just 200,000 households in New York rely exclusively on solar power.

“Creating one million homes powered by solar by 2023, including 100,000 low-income households will kick start this effort. Expanding solar energy will create jobs, save New Yorkers on utility bills, cut harmful air pollution, and accelerate an equitable transition to our clean energy future,” Breslin said.

“The benefits that solar provides should be accessible to homeowners, renters, low and middle income residents and people who for some reason can’t install solar on their home. More solar deployment, including community solar, will also play a key role in meeting New York’s clean energy goals. With new policies in place we can ensure New York once again becomes a top solarstate,” Fahy said.

Citing the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy, a coalition of advocates are pushing the governor to support polices that would support and enable the coalition’s goal of creating a million solar-powered homes.